Marker buoy



Feb. 25, 1964 R. GENTILE MARKER BUOY Filed April 9. 1962 INVENTOR.

4 PoBEfrT GENT/L United States Patent 3,121,889 MARKER BUQY RobertGentile, Woburn, Mass. (26 hawsheen Road, Biileriea, Mass.) Filed Apr.9, 1962, 3911. No. 1853b?) 13 Claims. (Cl. 9-9) This invention relatesto buoys and more particularly to marker buoys for use in marking a spotor area or submerged object in the water so that the spot, area orobject can again be easily located.

A. principal object of the invention is to provide a rugged marker buoywhich is carried on or about a persons belt and quickly and easilyreleasable therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marker buoy having abuoyant element or float comprising a cellular plastic material, thebuoyant element having a construction which is strong and durable andwhich will firmly retain or secure suitable fastening elements carriedthereby.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a marker buoy whichis of simple but rugged construction, easy to use above or below thesurface of water and of low cost.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the marker buoys possessing theconstruction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which areexemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following deta led description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the marker buoy;

FIG. 2 is another diagrammatic sectional view taken along the line 2-Zof FIGURE 1;

FIG. 3 is a view with parts broken away of the marker buoy taken alongthe line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and

ECG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of another embodiment of theinvention.

Marker buoys of a size and weight capable of being carried by askindiver, fisherman or the like for use in marking the location of acertain area of water or a submerged object or article have heretoforebeen described. However, such portable marker buoys have been found topossess one or more deficiencies, particularly when sought to be used byskindivers. For example, some marker buoys do not have means forsuitably securing the buoy to the skindiver. In such cases, it isnecessary to hand carry or hold the buoy until used, thus restricting orlimiting the use of the hand. This is not desirable for skindivers sincethe marker buoy may interfere with the skindivers swimming and since,from a safety standpoint, the hands of the skindiver should be as freeas possible in order to allow him toimmediately cope with problems whichmight arise. Mention has also been made of marker buoys capable of beingcarried on a skindivers suit, for example, on or about his belt.However, in many cases, the means utilized to secure the marker buoy tothe skindiver does not provide for the easy and immediate release ordetachment of the marker buoy.

It has also been proposed to employ marker buoys having a buoyantelement or float composed of a cellular plastic material, e.g., a foamedor expanded synthetic resin such as polyurethane. Many of such cellularbuoyant elements lack suflicient strength and rigidity so that 3,121,889Patented Feb. 25, 1964 after only little use they often crumble or breakup. Moreover, the cellular-buoyant material by itself generally does notprovide a good base or anchoring medium for fastening means which may becarried thereby to secure the marker buoy to the skindiver. Thus, aftersome use, the fastening means may become dislodged from the cellularmaterial.

Another deficiency resides in that in many cases the marker buoy is of aconstruction such that the length of flexible cord or line connectingthe cellular float and sinker and stored or carried within or withoutthe float is released in a manner such that the cord may becomeundesirably knotted or entangled.

in the present invention, there is provided a compact, rugged markerbuoy which may be readily carried on or about a belt and immediately andeasily releasable therefrom even when the person or skindiver is wearingbulky gloves. Moreover, in the present invention there is provided amarker buoy having a float of a cellular plastic structure which issuitably internally reinforced to provide strength and rigidity theretothus providing for long life. The internal reinforcing means alsoprovides a base to which fastening means such as snap fasteners may befirmly and securely attached so that even after repeated use thefastening means will not become loose or removed from the float.Furthermore, the present invention also provides a marker buoy having ahollow cellular plastic float within which a spool-like sinker with apredetermined length of flexible cord or line wound therearound iscarried. The sinker is of a spoollike construction so that the cord, onunwinding from the sinker, is prevented from becoming knotted orentangled.

-Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a marker buoy 10comprising a hollow float 12 provided with a chamber or compartment 14having an open bottom end 16, a spool-like sinker designated as 18within said chamber, and a predetermined length of flexible cord 29secured to float l2 and secured and wound about sinker 18. The float 12is shown as having a substantially frustoconical shape. it is to beunderstood, however, that the float 12 may have other shapes, forexample, square shaped, pyramid shaped, dome or hemispherical shaped, orthe like. The chamber 14 may also be of a configuration other than thatshown. However, it must be of a size and configuration sufficient tocompletely store or contain therein sinker 18 having a determined lengthof cord wound thereon.

The float 12 may be formed of a suitable buoyant material. Preferably,the float 12 comprises a cellular plastic material 22 having substantialrigidity, low water absorption, good buoyancy characteristics and anappreciable resistance to attack by oil and gasoline. In one preferredembodiment, the float .12 comprises cellular or foamed polyurethane. inaddition to polyurethane, other suitable foamed or expanded syntheticresins or plastics may be utilized to form cellular float 12. Forinstance, mention may be made of foamed vinyls such as, for example,foamed polyvinyl chloride, foamed or expanded polystyrene, cellularpolyole-fins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyepoxide foams,cellular cellulose acetate and the like.

Coloring material such as a dye or pigment is preferably added to orincorporated in the cellular plastic material so as to impart theretoproperties which will facilitate the location of the float during thedaytime and/ or nighttime. The float 12 may thus have, for example, anorange, red or yellow color to provide easy visual spotting during thedaytime. Colorants which provide fluorescence or the like may also beincorporated in the float so that its visual location during darknessmay be facilitated.

At the bottom of float 12 there is provided a pair of cavities 24 and26. Included within cavities 24 and 26 are snap fastener elements 28 and30 respectively. The cavities and snap fastener elements containedtherein are carried or located at diametrically opposite portions of thebottom of float 12. The aligned, diametrically opposed pair of snapfastener elements 28 and 30 are securely attached by suitable means to apair of tab or bracket means 32 and 34 embedded in float 12. Snapfastener element 28 is secured to bracket means 32 while snap fastenerelement 39 is secured to bracket means 3 The pair of brackets, hereshown as being L-shaped, are spaced apart so as to be in substantialsuperposed relationship or alignment with the snap fastener elements towhich they are joined. As shown, the bottom portion or end of each ofthe L-shaped brackets is secured to a snap fastener element. Oneconvenient method of accomplishing this attachment is to provide in thebottom end of each bracket a hole or slot through which a rivet, bolt orthe like is passed to firmly join the snap fastener element and brackettogether. The top portion or end of the L-shaped bracket is secured to areinforcing ring 36 of, for example, stainless steel strip, the ringbeing internally embedded in float 12. The brackets may be secured tothe reinforcing ring 36 by suitable means such as by welding, if bothare metallic, or by riveting, bolting or the like. It should bementioned that the tab or bracket means may comprise an integral part ofreinforcing ring 36.

The reinforcing ring 36 which is internally embedded in the float 12 mayhave a cross-section other than that shown. For example, instead of thesubstantially rectangular cross-section illustrated, the ring may alsohave a square cross-section, circular cross-section, tubularcross-section or the like. The reinforcing ring 36 may be formed of anumber of materials. For example, the ring may be metallic, e.g.,stainless steel, aluminum or the like, or it may be of wood, or of asynthetic resin or plastic or other suitable material. When a plasticmaterial is utilized as the reinforcing ring it is of a structure otherthan that of the float, that is, the reinforcing ring does not possess afoamed or cellular structure. The reinforcing ring provides additionalrigidity and strength to the hollow cellular float. Moreover, beinginternally embedded completely around the float, it also provides anexcellent base or anchoring medium for securely holding the snapfastener elements in place so that even after repeated pulling thereonthey will not become undesirably loose or dislodged from the float.

Adapted to be completely contained within chamber 14 is spool-likesinker or weight 18, preferably of lead, comprising a shaft 38 shownhere as being cylindrically shaped having at or near the ends'thereof apair of disc shaped rims. The rims comprise a lower or base rim 4% andan upper rim 42. Rim 42 located at or near the upper end of shaft 38 ispreferably of a diameter less than that of base rim 4%). The shaft 38 isof a diameter substantially less than either of the rims 40 and 42, thusforming with the rims a means for storing a predetermined length offlexible cord or line 20. The cord 20 may, for example, comprise rope,vinyl cord, nylon cord, polyethylene cord or the like.

The cord 20 is attached at one end to the sinker 18 and preferably tothe shaft 38 and at the other end to an eye loop 44 which extends intothe upper portion of chamber 14. The eye loop is firmly secured in theupper portion of the cellular float such as shown in FIGURE 1. Ashallow, centrally disposed cavity or bore 46 is provided in the upperend of sinker 18 so as to provide a space to receive the eye loop 44when the sinker is tightly contained Within the chamber 14. To preventmovement of the sinker within the chamber there is provided at the topportion of chamber 14 a pad of resilient material such as rubber or thelike.

The buoy may be conveniently carried by a person,

e.g., a skindiver, by providing on his belt or on a support or clipcarried about his belt suitably spaced snap fastener elements whichcoact or cooperate with the snap fastener elements carried by the float12. The snap fastener elements of the float and those carried by thepersons apparel preferably comprise coacting male and female parts, onepart being carried by the float and the other part carried by thepersons apparel.

In one embodiment, there may be utilized a narrow support 48 comprisinga front portion 50 and a back portion 52 joined together to form aclosed loop about belt 54. Mounted on the front portion 50 are a pair ofsuitably spaced snap fastener elements 55 and 58 which coact with themale or female snap fastener elements 28 and 30 respectively carried bythe float 12. Thus, there is provided a quick detachable fastening meansfor mounting or securing a marker buoy to a person.

In order that the buoy can be instantaneously detached or released fromthe coacting snap fasteners, the float is provided with detachment meanswhich can be easily grasped and pulled so as to pull the cooperatingsnap fasteners apart. In one embodiment of the invention, the float 12is provided with at least one and preferably two beveled portions 6% and62 located at the lower or bottom outermost circumference of the float.As shown in FIG. 3, diametrically opposed portions of the loweroutermost portion of float 12 are suitably beveled. The beveled portionsare substantially parallel to the aligned snap fasteners carried by thefloat. The detachment of the buoy is thus simply and instantaneouslyachieved by placing the fingers under one of the beveled edges orportions and pulling so as to release the cooperating snap fasteners.The beveled portions thus provide quick means for releasing the buoyeven When bulky gloves are Worn. Instead of beveled portions, one ormore tab means attached to the bottom of the float and extendingoutwardly therefrom may also be employed to provide means which whenpulled will result in the release of the buoy.

In another embodiment of the invention, longer float life can beachieved by substantially completely encasing or surrounding thecellular float 12 in a protective casing or enclosure 23 (as shown inFIG. 4) of a suitable plastic or polymeric material in non-cellularform; the float casing having substantially the same shape orconfiguration as the cellular float. In other words, the cellular float12 can be provided with a form-fitting casing comprising a polymericmaterial in substantially solid form, i.e., of a non-cellular nature.Among the many thermosetting and thermoplastic polymeric materials whichmay be utilized to form the float casing, mention may be made of, forexample, acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene plastics, acrylics such aspolymethylmethacrylate, alkyds, allylics, amino plastics such asmelamine-formaldehyde and ureaformaldehyde, cellulosic plastics such ascellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose propionate and the like, polyamideresins, phenolics such as phenol-formaldehyde and the like, polyesters,polyalkylenes such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polystyrene, andvinyl resins such as polyvinyl chloride etc. The plastic float casingcan be suitably colored so as to impart thereto properties which willfacilitate the location of the float during the daytime and/ ornighttime.

In operation, the cord is Wound about the shaft of the sinker which isthen placed in chamber 14 of float 12. The buoy is then detachablysecured to a belt, or to a support carried by a belt or to some otherportion of the apparel Worn by the person by means of the coactin g snapfastener elements. The buoy when attached and carried by a person underwater is of neutral buoyancy until re leased. The sinker within chamber14 of the float is held so that it has little or no movement. When it isdesired to release the buoy either above, at, or below the surface ofthe water to mark a spot or object in the water, the fingers are placedunder one of the beveled portions and the float pulled so as to releasethe cooperating snap fasteners. The release of the buoy permits thefloat to rise or remain on the surface of the water and the sinker,attached by means of a cord to the float, to fall from the float chamberwhere it had been carried and sink toward the bottom. As the sinkerdrops, the cord wound and stored around the shaft thereof unwinds. Byproviding rims 4d and 42 on the sinker 18, the wound cord, rather thanbeing released all at once or in batches with the danger of knotting orentanglement, must be uncoiled or unwound.

Since certain changes may be made in the above buoy without departingfrom the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

1. In the combination of a marker buoy ad a means for supporting saidbuoy about a belt, said marker buoy comprising a float having a chamberwhich is open at the bottom end thereof, said float comprising acellular plastic material, a spool-like sinker releasably carried withinsaid charnber, a predetermined length of flexible cord wound upon saidsinker, one end of said flexible cord being secured to said float andthe other end of said flexible cord being secured to said sinker, and apair of spaced snap fastener elements secured at the bottom of saidfloat, said means for supporting said marker buoy comprising a closedloop having secured thereto a pair of spaced snap fastener elementswhich coact with the snap fastener elements carried by said float.

2. The marker buoy of claim 1 wherein a casing comprising a non-cellularplastic material is provided around the cellular float.

3. The marker buoy of claim 1 wherein at least one beveled outer edgeportion is provided at the bottom of said float.

4. The marker buoy of claim 1 wherein said pair of snap fastenerelements are located at directly opposite portions of the bottom of saidfloat.

5. A marker buoy which comprises a hollow float, said float comprising acellular plastic material, a spoollike sinker releasably carried withinsaid float, a predetermined length of flexible cord wound upon saidsinker, one end of said flexible cord being secured to said float andthe other end of said flexible cord being secured to said sinker, a pairof spaced snap fastener elements at the bottom of said float, areinforcing ring member internally embedded in said float, a pair ofbracket means joining said snap fastener elements and said reinforcingring member, and at least one beveled outer edge portion at the bottomof said float.

6. The marker buoy of claim 5 wherein a casing comprising a non-cellularplastic material is provided around the cellular float.

7. A marker buoy which comprises a hollow float having a substantiallyfrusto-conical shape, said float cornprising a cellular plasticmaterial, a spool-like sinker releasably carried within said float, apredetermined length of flexible cord Wound upon said sinker, one end ofsaid flexible cord being secured to said float and the other end of saidflexible cord being secured to said sinker, a pair of diametricallyopposed snap fastener elements at the bottom of said float, areinforcing ring member internally embedded in said float, a pair ofbracket means in substantia alignment with said snap fastener elementsextending from said reinforcing ring member, said snap fastener elementsbeing secured to said bracket means, and a pair of diametrically opposedbeveled portions at the bottom outermost circumference of said float.

8. The marker buoy of claim 7 wherein said cellular plastic mate-rialcomprises polyurethane.

9. The marker buoy of claim 7 wherein said float contains a coloringmaterial.

10. The marker buoy of claim 7 wherein a casing comprising anon-cellular plastic material is provided around the cellular float.

11. In the combination of a marker buoy and a means for supporting saidbuoy about a belt, said marker buoy comprising a hollow float, saidfloat comprising a cellular plastic material, a spool-like sinkerreleasably carried within said float, a predetermined length of flexiblecord wound upon said sinker, one end of said flexible cord being securedto said float and the other end of said flexible cord being secured tosaid sinker, a pair of snap fastener elements positioned at directlyopposite portions of the bottom of said float, a reinforcing ring memberinternaliy embedded in said float, a pair of bracket means joining saidsnap fastener elements and said reinforcing ring member, and at leastone beveled outer edge portion at the bottom of said float, said meansfor supporting said marker buoy comprising a closed loop having securedthereto a pair of spaced snap fastener elements which coact with thesnap fastener elements carried by said float.

12. A marker buoy which comprises a float having a chamber which is openat the bottom end thereof, said float having a substantiallyfrusto-conical shape comprising a cellular plastic material, aspool-like sinker releasably carried within said chamber, apredetermined length of flexible cord wound upon said sinker, one end ofsaid flexible cord secured to said float and the other end of saidflexible cord secured to said sinker, a pair of diametrically opposedsnap fastener elements at the bottom of said float, a reinforcing ringmember internally embedded in said float, a pair of bracket means insubstantial alignment with said snap fastener elements extending fromsaid reinforcing ring member, said snap fastener elements being securedto said bracket means, and a pair of diametrically opposed beveledportions at the bottom outermost circumference of said float.

13. In combination with said marker buoy of claim 12, a means forsupporting said marker buoy about a belt which comprises a closed loophaving secured thereto a pair of spaced snap fastener elements whichcoact with the snap fastener elements carried by said float.

References tilted in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,935,229 Neal Nov. 14, 1933 2,562,922 Kist Aug. 7, 1951 2,819,476 DodgeJan. 17, 1958 3,007,437 Adair Nov. 7, 1961

1. IN THE COMBINATION OF A MARKER BUOY AND A MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAIDBUOY ABOUT A BELT, SAID MARKER BUOY COMPRISING A FLOAT HAVING A CHAMBERWHICH IS OPEN AT THE BOTTOM END THEREOF, SAID FLOAT COMPRISING ACELLULAR PLASTIC MATERIAL, A SPOOL-LIKE SINKER RELEASABLY CARRIED WITHINSAID CHAMBER, A PREDETERMINED LENGTH OF FLEXIBLE CORD WOUND UPON SAIDSINKER, ONE END OF SAID FLEXIBLE CORD BEING SECURED TO SAID FLOAT ANDTHE OTHER END OF SAID FLEXIBLE CORD BEING SECURED TO SAID SINKER, AND APAIR OF SPACED SNAP FASTENER ELEMENTS SECURED AT THE BOTTOM OF SAIDFLOAT, SAID MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID MARKER BUOY COMPRISING A CLOSEDLOOP HAVING SECURED THERETO A PAIR OF SPACED SNAP FASTENER ELEMENTSWHICH COACT WITH THE SNAP FASTENER ELEMENTS CARRIED BY SAID FLOAT.